Maze puzzle



1935. E. s. BOYNTON 2,011,266

MAZE PUZZLE Filed Feb. 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet} 27 26 5 INVENTOR i 4 ll 5H 57 55M '2 TI 9W} T Ms as Y 2% l4 HI A ORNEY Aug. 13, 1935. E. s.BOYNTON MAZE PUZZLE 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1934 INVENTOR ORNEY1i. movable element or elements, functioning as a vice versa.

Patented Aug. 13, 1935 V i Q 7 "L UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y PUZZLEEarlS. Boyntorr, East Orange, N. J. Application mam 8, 1934, Serial No.710.242

6Claims.' (01. 273-453) y Present inv n n lates to puzzles; and. face.are the circular grooves 26-and 2! connected more particularly to animproved labyrinth-puzrespectively with the outer edge of the memberzle. I r 25 by the radial grooves 28 and 29 respectively.

A feature of my invention resides in combin- Formed integral with themember 25 and ex- .5 ing, with a labyrinth-puzzle, movable elementstending upward from its upper surface through .3

for switching the ball, or other travelling eleaperforation30, inthecover l3, is a knob 3| ment, from one portion of the labyrinth toanandby means of whichthe member 25 may be other. rotated. In the groove26is a vertical perfora- A further feature ofmy invention resides in.tion 32, while in the groove 21 is a vertical per ill: the provision, ina switchingelement for a labyforation 3-3. The: function of these holes32 and rinth-puzzle, of a sub-labyrinth formed in and 33, and therotatable cylindrical member 25 is constituting part of the switchingelement. to permit the transfer-of the ball or travelling A stillfurther feature of my invention resides element from the labyrinth" orlabyrinths on the in. combining with a double-faced labyrinth, a face [3to. the labyrinth IS on the face [4, and

a l5 switch or switches, for transferring the ball, or On the face I?the labyrinth is shown in 'the other travelling element from one face tothe. form of a plurality of parallelly arranged other face of the doublefaced labyrinth. grooves, as shown in Fig. 2, and substantially Furtherfeatures and objects of the invention centrally located in the face I!is a-rectangular fi will be more fully understood from the followingcompartment 34 inwhich is slidably mounted a detail description and theaccompanying drawgrooved plate 35. Extending outwardly from the ings, inwhich v plate 35 is an operating knob 36 which works in Fig. 1 is a planview of one face,'of one embodi an elongated slot 3! in the cover M. Theplate ment of my invention; 35-i-s provided with perforations 38 and 39which Fig. 2 is a planview of the other face of the may be brought intoregistry with perforations embodiment of Fig. 1; in the diaphragm l5 topermit the transfer of Fig. 3 is a section on the line .3--3 of Fig. 1;the ball'or other travelling member 40 from the i Fig. 4 is a section onthe line 4-4 of Fig.1; labyrinth on the face M to the labyrinth IS onFig; 5. is a plan view of another embodiment, the face l3, or viceversa. ac and The diaphragm I5 is perforated at various Fig.6 is asection on theline 6-45 of Fig. 5. points, as. designated by thereference numeral The puzzle consists of a shallow box or frame H, itbeing noted that such perforations 4| con I0, preferably rectangularinformpthe opposite nect the bottoms of the grooves of t aby faces ofwhich are recessed, as indicated by the on one of such faces with thewell 22 or the rec- 36; reference characters Hand l2 respectively. Intangular compartment 34. r i

the recess l l is secured a cover l3, of glass, ce1 The rotatablecylindrical member 25 and the luloid or. other-suitable material, andasimilar sliding plate have been added to stimulate the cover [4 issecured in the recess [2. Preferably interest of the person attemptingto solve the formed integral with the box or frame l0 and pu le, andrende s the puzzle more difiicult of 40. lying between the covers [3 andI4, is a diasolution. In solving this .m-odification of the .phra'gm l5,in th faces [6 a d I"! f which are puzzle both the member 25 and theplate 35 must formed labyrinths to be hereinafter described. beutilized, and all of the labyrinths, except the In one face of thediaphragm, as the face [6, blind labyrinths 28 and 2| must be broughtinto shownin plan in Fig. 1 and in section in Fig. 3, play. There is acorrect path over which the 43 is a labyrinth comprised of twosubstantially cirball, or other travelling member 40 must move 45 cularlabyrinths or mazes I8 and I9, auxiliary to have such member move fromthe position at labyrinths 20 and 2|, superficially disconnected thecenterof the labyrinth "to the center of from" the labyrinths l8 and I9,and a circular the labyrinth l9, and the finding of this path is well22. The well 22 is connected to the'labyrendered more or less diificultby the character 50. rinth l8 by the groove 23 and to the labyrinth ofthe various labyrinths and by the members'25 l9 by the groove 24. 9 Vand 35 Rotatably mounted in the well 22 is a cylin- In: the form of theinvention shown in Figs. 5 drical member 25 having its upper surfaceasand'6 there is providedpreferably a rectangular viewed in Figs. 1 and 4,lying in the same plane fiat plate 45 on one face of which, as the upperas the surface l6 of the diaphragm I5, and in this face shown in Fig. 6,is arranged a labyrinth or 55 maze 45 of any degree of complexity andintricacy desired. It will be noted. on reference to Fig. 5 that thelabyrinth 46 is divided naturally into two portions by the groove 41,which groove forms part of the labyrinth 46. On one side of the groove41 is a chamber 48, from which it is usual to start the traveller, suchas the ball 49. On the right hand side of the groove 41 and forming partof the labyrinth 46 is a chamber 59 similar to chamber 48 and the objectof the puzzle is to move the traveller or ball 49.from the chamber 48through the labyrinth 46 and into the chamber 55. I

The face of the rectangular plate 45 on which is formed the labyrinth46, is provided at various points about the surface thereof, withpreferably cylindrical depressions 5!. Centrally arranged with regard tosuch depressions 5!, and in the bottom thereof, are perforations 52. Theunder' face of the rectangular plate 45 is recessed as shown in Fig. 6,and as indicated by the'reference numeral 53. Mounted for rotation inthe cylindrical depressions 5| are the cylindrical labyrinth switchelements 54, and preferably, though not necessarily, each of switchelements 54'ha's formed integral therewith and on the under facethereof, an extension '55 which extends through the perforation 52 andis rotatably mounted therein. The lower end of the extension 55 is madenoncircular or otherwise fashioned to facilitate the gripping thereof inorder to rotate the cylindrical switch member 54 in its associateddepression 5!. Adjacent the point of emergence of extension 55 is formeda groovein which is situated a snap ring 55 which holds the cylindricalswitch element 54 in its associated cylindrical depression 5 I Thenumber of switch elements 54 employed may be as numerous as desired. Forthe purpose of arranging such elements symmetrically about the face ofthe rectangular plate 45, I have shown six such switch elements 54, butas stated above, the number is immaterial and does not aifect thepatentability of my invention.

The upper face of each of the switch elements 54 stands flush withthe'face of the rectangular plate 45 in which the labyrinth 46 isformed. Also in the face of each switch element 54 are formed grooves51, which grooves upon rotation of the switch element 54 may be broughtinto registry with one or more of the grooves forming the labyrinth 46.The grooves 5'! of the switch elements 54 may be merely transfergrooves, and by means of which the traveller or ball 49 is passed from agroove of the labyrinth 46 on one side of a switch 54 to a groove of thelabyrinth 46 on the other side of such switch 54, or the system ofgrooves 51 in some or all of the switch elements 54 may be so complex incharacter as to constitute a labyrinth or sub-labyrinth.

I have found that plurality of switch elements 54 with a labyrinth orsub-labyrinth on the face thereof adds to the interest in the puzzle, asordinarily there is one path over which the traveller or ball 49 maypass from the chamber 48 into the chamber 56. With the various switchelements 54, it is possible to not only further complicate the labyrinthpath including, the labyrinth 46, but also to devise short cuts so thatthe number of paths over which the traveller or ball 49 may travel isincreased.

My device is of such character as to permit it to be made of molded ormoldable material, such as bakelite or other similar well knowncommercial material, and thus may be made in quantities at relativelylow costs.

The form and shape of the device and the labyrinths and other elementsmay be varied as desired without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A puzzle comprising a box having transparent heads, a diaphragmarranged parallel with said heads and dividing the box into separatecompartments and provided on both sides thereof with labyrinths for theguidance of a ball, perforations extending through said diaphragm and aswitching device associated with the labyrinths on one face of thediaphragm for permitting the passage of the ball from one face to theother.

2. A puzzle comprising a box having transparent heads, a diaphragmarranged parallel with said heads and dividing the box into separatecompartments and provided on both sides thereof with labyrinths for theguidance of a ball, perforations extending through said diaphragm andswitching devices associated with the labyrinths on each face of thediaphragm for per mitting the passage of the ball from one face to theother.

3. A puzzle comprising a box having transparent heads, a diaphragmarranged parallel with said heads and dividing the box into separatecompartments and provided on both sides thereof with labyrinths for theguidance of a ball, a switching device associated With the labyrinths onone face of the diaphragm and perforations extending through saiddiaphragm and associated with the switching devices whereby the passageof the ball from one face to the other of the diaphragm is permitted.

l. A puzzle comprising a box having transparent heads, a diaphragmarranged parallel with said heads and dividing the box into sepa-- ratecompartments and provided on both sides thereof with labyrinths for theguidance. of a ball, a rotatable switching device on one'face of thediaphragm associated with said perforations, and means for connectingsaid switch with the labyrinths on its associated face, whereby passageof the ball from such labyrinths through said latter perforations to theother face of the diaphragm is permitted. #5. A puzzle comprising a boxhaving trans parent heads, a-diaphragm arranged parallel with said headsand dividing the box into separate compartments and provided on bothsides thereof with labyrinths for the guidance of a ball, areciprocating switching device on one face of the diaphragm associatedwith said perforations, and means for connecting said switch with thelabyrinths on its associated face, whereby passage of the ball from suchlabyrinths through said latter perforations to the other face of thediaphragm is permitted.

6. A puzzle comprising a plate having a labyrinth or maze formed in oneface thereof, a plurality of switching elements rotatably mounted insaid plate and having a labyrinth or maze formed in one face thereof,and means for rotating the switch elements to selectively bring thegrooves of the labyrinth thereon into registry with the grooves of thelabyrinth in the face of the plate. 7 EARL S. BOYNION.

